Indiana Pacers: Is Malcolm Brogdon the most underrated player in the NBA?

Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon is quietly having a sensational season.

When the Indiana Pacers traded for Malcolm Brogdon prior to the 2019-20 NBA season, it was hard to imagine he would be this important for the team. Brogdon has emerged as the engine of this team, despite the rise of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis. With Victor Oladipo no longer in the building, Malcolm Brogdon is the sole star of the backcourt – at least until Caris LeVert proves himself in Indiana.

Through 12 games this season, Brogdon is getting it done on both ends of the floor and giving the Pacers life. He is averaging career-highs in points, assists, and steals by a substantial margin so far this season. Of course, this could also be a result of a huge uptick in minutes as Brogdon is tallying 36.9 minutes per game compared to his 30.9 minutes per outing last season.

At a remarkable 22.8 points and 7.4 assists per game, Brogdon providing life for the offense while also taking care of the ball. Last year, Brogdon turned the ball over 2.4 times per game and has cut that down to just 1.7 turnovers in 2020-21. For reference, his turnovers per 36 minutes have dropped from 2.8 to 1.6 in just one season.

Since the fifth-year guard is averaging roughly 36 minutes per game, looking back at his previous per 36 stats gives an estimate of just how good he has been. In 2019-20, Brogdon averaged 19.3 points, 8.2 assists, and 0.8 steals. This time around, he is posting 22.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per 36.

His steal numbers are a result of active hands on the perimeter that has been a staple for the Pacers so far this season. Brogdon, Edmond Sumner, and Victor Oladipo all employ active hands and make life difficult on opposing guards. With Oladipo now out of town, Brogdon may have to step up even more on that end.

Yet, despite career numbers and a hot start for the Indiana Pacers, Malcolm Brogdon is hardly mentioned as a potential All-Star. While Domantas Sabonis is posting absurd numbers on his own and Myles Turner is the leader in the clubhouse for Defensive Player of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon deserves some love.